After reading A Christmas Carol, the notoriously reculsive Thomas Carlyle was ‘seized with a perfect convulsion of hospitality’ and threw not one but two Christmas dinner parties. The impact of the story may not always have been so dramatic but, along with Dickens’s other Christmas writings, it has had a lasting and significant influence upon our ideas about the Christmas spirit, and about the … season as a time for celebration, charity and memory.
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I am sure I don’t need to tell a single sole what this book is about. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably seen at least one Christmas Carol movie over the years.
Normally I would not read a book where I have seen the movie. But I have never read A Christmas Carol. I really don’t know how I have not read the book, but I wanted to at least see how closely the movies resembled the book.
They did a really good job. There was not a lot in the book that was left out. A few minor details that really did not affect the story in any way. The book is written in the style of the time, but even then, it was not a complicated read.
I recommend reading it, even if you have seen the 100 versions played on TV. A classic is a classic.
One of my cherished Christmas books. I read it anew almost every Christmas season.
One of my all-time favorite books. It’s a perfect read for the holidays. I’ve used it with my 8th and 9th grade students to introduce them to classic literature for many years with great success.
Glad I finally got around to reading this.
I read this every year always finding in it something new to enjoy. Amazing that it was written in only six weeks almost 180 years ago….
My go to every year in December. The tragic and lonely world of seventeenth century miserly curmudgeon, Ebeneezer Scrooge has become synonomous with the restorative wonder of the festive season. The Best Christmas Story ever written. Happy Holidays
I thought it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. It shows how greed can twist somebody’s mind (in this case, that of Ebenezer Scrooge), so that he becomes cut off from all of humankind, rejects all that is decent and just, and develops an unjustified scorn and hatred against the poor, the homeless, the sick, the unemployed, the disadvantaged, etc. It also shows that this same person can be reformed and made into a better human being by the true meaning of Christmas.
I’ve never actually read this book, but after seeing The Man Who Invented Christmas (I HIGHLY recommend it), I wanted to try it.
It was impossible for me to read this book without picturing scenes from Disney’s Christmas Carol — I had visions of Mickey and Donald in my head through the whole thing. People often say books are better than the movies, and I generally agree. I will say, however, that I was pleasantly surprised at how accurately the movies have captured this story (I’ve seen many versions, including a professional theater troupe, the Muppets, and Scrooged).
There are several sayings in the book that you’ll have to look up (19th-century British phrases that just aren’t used today, so I didn’t understand them), but overall the movie versions have done a great service to this book. It’s a fun, short read that’s perfect for the holidays.
Like so many others, I’ve seen the Muppets version of this, but somehow, I’d never gotten around to reading it. Of course, when I found out that Tim Curry narrates this on Audible, I knew this was the year I’d finally rectify that. He narrated this classic tale so fantastically, and it’s the way I would absolutely recommend consuming this book. I imagine it’ll be a go to for now on during the holiday season.
If you love holiday stories, this is what you need to read. Hilarious but deep. A masterpiece in a very short length.
It’s such a wonderful classic that’s truly reminiscent of Christmas.
A timeless classic and a wonderful story.
I read this as a kid a couple of times and just never got around to noting it here. I do not remember the dates or how many times, I am just going to guesstimate and leave it at one time.
We are reading next month for book club and I am excited to be revisiting this classic as an adult.
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Read 12.20.2018
Book Club Read
My favorite of all the movies of this book is The Muppet Christmas Carol [and the one with Alistair Sim, but its been awhile since I have seen that one. I do have the one with Patrick Stewart to watch at some point as well]. I love that movie. I love Michael Caine as Scrooge. I love Kermit. You get the picture. Anyway, I adore that movie…wait what? Oh right, that has been established. What I didn’t realize was just how close that movie is to the book. There were moments when I was listening to this [read by the extraordinary Simon Vance] when I half [oh OKAY, fully expected and quite possibly broke into song] expected a song to start after a certain section was read. THAT is how close the movie is to this book. Yes, there are moments that are in the book that are not in the movie. That is to be expected. But WOW. I was truly [and happily] surprised.
I love this story. Everyone [I am assuming. I guess I shouldn’t, but it IS Christmas so I am trying to give the benefit of the doubt here] loves a good redemption story and this is one of the best. Even without the soundtrack and Kermit and Gonzo [A blue Charles Dickens IS a bit weird, but he does a really good job telling the story. But I again digress…], this is a really great story. Ghosts, chains, chilly walks down memory lane [which really isn’t always the best thing I think] and a view into one’s future – what more could you want in a story? And the redemption part is just THE BEST.
If it has been awhile since you have picked this up, I highly recommend doing so immediately. I also recommend listening to the amazing Simon Vance [NO, I do not know him personally and NO I am not getting paid to promote him]. Or [according to my friend Joy] you can get the Tim Curry version on Audible – she has given that version HIGH MARKS as well [and if it is as good as his Van Helsing in Dracula was, you indeed are in for a treat!!]. This is a story for everyone and everyone really, at some point, should read this. Because you never know just who might need a little redemption in their own lives.
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December 31, 2019
5 Stars
What a way to end the decade!! So looking forward to listening to this with Tim Curry as narrator [he was SO good in the Dracula narration]!! I wanted to read this right before Christmas, but then Santa brought the stomach flu and my whole reading got shoved cattywumpus and I wasn’t sure I’d get to this – so glad it is happening!!
:::UPDATE::: TIM CURRY is just delightful in this version. What a lovely way to pass a cold and blustery afternoon!!!
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December 26, 2021
5 Stars
Well, WOW.
A member of the book club I belong to posted a link [see below] to a performance of Neil Gaiman reading A Christmas Carol and while I was going to again listen to Tim Curry read this amazing book, WHO can turn down listening to Neil Gaiman? I know I certainly cannot [I’d love to find the audio of him reading the Cheesecake Factory menu that he did after money for charity was raised by people who love and adore him. Never would descriptions of food sound so amazing and delicious]. Let me tell you, this was simply AMAZING. Read before a live audience [which just adds to the performance], he just reads the story as it was written and it was absolutely delightful and I am glad I took the time to listen to this again. It is always interesting to listen to different people read it and see how they interpret the story in their nuances and inflections and the such. I hope that if you love this book/story, that you can take the time to read/listen to this again, with whomever you love reading it the best and be reminded just what Christmas is all about.
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2019/12/19/listen-neil-gaiman-reads-christmas-carol?fbclid=IwAR1F2WaDNa__i_SEnUy5LGCcWBU5BV7Kr16PQhe31m_SmEctGNdzODuXFJY